Gray Wolf Protection Potentially Changes

A panel of Wyoming lawmakers is considering a proposal to remove federal protections from gray wolves in the state possibly as soon as next year. A legislative committee is meeting in Thermopolis on Tuesday to consider proposed changes to the state's wolf-management plan. Gov. Matt Mead and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar this summer reached an agreement over how to turn wolf management over to the state.

The full Legislature will likely take it up when it meets starting in February. Under the agreement reached this summer, Wyoming would classify wolves as unprotected predators that could be shot on sight in most areas. Wolves would be classified as protected game animals in a flexible trophy game zone in the northwestern corner of the state around Yellowstone National Park.